A family-owned daily newspaper serving Riverton, Lander and Fremont County, Wyoming since 1949

Former Wyoming coach inducted into college hall

May 22, 2012 - Staff

The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced Tuesday the members of the College Football Hall of Fame 2012 Divisional Class.

This year's class will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during the Enshrinement Festival, July 20-21, 2012, in South Bend, Ind.

Among the three coaches and four players selected to the College Football Hall of Fame 2012 Divisional Class is former Wyoming head football coach William H. "Lone Star" Dietz, who coached the Cowboys from 1924-26.

William "Lone Star" Dietz

Head-coaching Record: 96-62-7 (.603)

With a lengthy career spanning many schools and decades, William "Lone Star" Dietz provided a foundation for football success at many universities across the nation. He served as a head coach for 19 seasons, coaching seven different teams and enjoyed a distinguished career as an assistant coach, helping College Football Hall of Fame coach Pop Warner prepare Stanford for two Rose Bowl appearances.

Dietz launched his head-coaching resume in 1915 by leading Washington State to a 7-0 mark and a 14-0 Rose Bowl victory over Brown. He led the Cougars to a 17-2-1 (.875) record for three seasons until the school discontinued football for World War I.

He contributed to the World War I effort by coaching the Mare Island Marines from 1918-19, claiming a 20-3 (.870) mark as the head coach of the Marines and guiding the squad to an appearance in the 1919 Rose Bowl. His Mare Island Marines lost, 17-0, in the 1919 Rose Bowl to the the Great Lakes Navy team that featured as a player future NFL head coach George Halas.

After a one-year stay at Purdue in 1921, Dietz pushed Louisiana Tech to an 11-3 (.786) record from 1922-23.

Dietz then coached three seasons at Wyoming from 1924-26, where he also spent time leading the baseball team. His record as head coach of the Cowboy Football team was 10-13-2 (.440), including a successful 6-3 record in 1925.

He coached at the Haskell Indian Institute for four seasons from 1929-32, enjoying a 26-15-2 (.628) record, until the school de-emphasized sports following the 1932 season.

Dietz next took his coaching talents to the professional level. His authentic Native American garb inspired Boston Braves owner George Preston Marshall, whom Dietz was serving as head coach for in 1933 and 34, to rename the football club the Redskins before he moved the franchise to Washington in 1937.

Dietz landed at his final head-coaching position at Albright College in 1937, earning a 31-23-2 (.571) record over six campaigns before the school discontinued football for World War II.

Dietz played tackle at Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pa., before graduating after the 1914 season. Dietz was also an accomplished artist, contributing sketches for the Walt Disney picture Bambi. He is also a member of the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.